May 2018 Newsletter
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May 21, 2018 May 21, Sentinel Newsletter It’s the little things that make the “BIG” difference. June Committee Meetings @ QCB13 Board Office Public Safety 6.6.18 @ 7:00 pm Seniors (SSSSNC) 6.7.18 @ 7:00 pm Land Use 6.11.18 @ 7:30 pm Youth and Education 6.12.18 @ 7:30 pm Economic Development 6.13.18 @ 7:00 pm Parks and Environment 6.19.18 @ 7:30 pm Health 6.21.18 @ 7:00 pm Transportation Not Scheduled GENERAL BOARD MEETING Monday, May 21, 2018 @ 7:30 PM The Mighty St. Peter’s Lutheran Church — 224-04 147 Avenue, Springfield Gardens, NY 11413 AGENDA 1. Community Time 2. Meeting Called to Order 3. Pledge of Allegiance 4. Welcome & Introduction of NEW Members: Andy Laine & Nantasha Williams 5. Public Speaking Time 6. Elected Officials — Welcome 7. Chairman’s Report — Clive Williams 8. District Manager’s Remarks — Mark McMillan 9. NYPD Report — Inspector Jeffery Schiff, Commanding Officer, 105 Precinct 10. Roll Call 11. Approve Minutes — April 2018 12. “Local Law 30” - Gas Shutoff Valve Installations — Presentation, by National Grid 13. Committee Reports 14. Adjournment NEXT GENERAL BOARD MEETING, Monday, June 25, 2018 Bellerose Assembly of God 240-15 Hillside Avenue, Bellerose, NY 11426 Liquor License Reviewed Rollin Green of Bellerose, Bellerose (Renewal) It’s Supposed to be Hard On a number of occasions, I have taken a group of friends and family a couple of hours upstate to a place called Mountainville, for a hike. What is nice about the drive up is the slow melting away of the cityscape – first though winding suburban roads of Westchester County – and finally, after crossing the mighty Hudson River on the Tappan Zee Bridge, entering the beautiful topography of New York State. Approaching our destination on I-87, the feeling of being in the mountains begins. Large masses of rock dwarf the caravans of cars, buses and trucks going north and south. Inclines in this area can no longer be called hills. Exiting off of the interstate, we take a county road – aka “Blue Highway” – to reach the point where our vehicles will be parked. The cutout in the road is adjacent to a beautiful house with enough land around it for a football field. In the distance behind the house are mountains creating a picturesque image as we begin our hike. The requirements for the day are: boots, lunch and water carried in a backpack. It is advised that you wear long sleeves and a hat. We cross the road and enter a meadow composed of tall grass, wild flowers, a single tree full and round with leaves. One feels as if they are in a movie, as any sign of man-made life rapidly vanishes behind. The energy of nature takes over as a feeling of euphoria emerges. The group is laughing, smiling and absorbing the natural beauty we are surrounded by. The trail is leading us to what appears to be a forest – all trees. We are finally at the hill. We are too close to see the top but the trail markers will lead the way. This is a single-file trail so I lead the way. If you lose the trail you could literally be lost for hours; and there is no one to call to get you back. There are over 2700 acres with some trails that go 20 miles… As we start to climb the conversation stops. The hill becomes steep and the trail meanders to and fro. There are parts of the trail where you are on the cusp of a cliff where one wrong step will have you tumbling hundreds of feet. After 30 minutes the complaining begins: How much longer before we get to the top? This is so steep; it is too hard; I want to go back down. This isn’t fun anymore. After another 20 minutes or so, the complaining turns to anger as each person comes face-to-face with their level of fitness. We rest more frequently. We slow the pace. I can feel the anxiety of some who now regret coming on this adventure. We finally reach a level part where a railroad track lies. This lone track goes as far as the eye can see in each direction. We pause again, sipping water. I caution everyone not to gulp all of their water so fast; the hike is far from over and it could lead to cramping. Some listen, others do not. After resting, we cross the tracks and start walking uphill again. Many have gotten their second wind. Everyone is impatient to get to the top. Because of the effort already undertaken, the hill seems even more steep. Yet, everyone knows they have committed fully to the experience. They could turn around and go back down, but they could get lost. They also don’t know what peril exists for a solo hiker. We continue to climb. There is silence except for the ruffling leaves and the sounds of condors overhead. Now I know we are approaching the summit. The height of the trees is getting lower. The sky is suddenly available to see. We take a couple of curves and the tree line is gone – just rock. We jump over a small gap and we are at the top. A collective gasp from all as the whole horizon can be seen in every direction. We are about 1700 feet up. Now it is time for lunch. (…to be continued) 5.21.18 Mark McMillan, District Manager CONTACT US 718.464.9700 Mark McMillan, District Manager, [email protected] Maxine Brannon, Community Coordinator, [email protected] Corey Ince, Community Associate, [email protected] By: Maxine Brannon Smell Gas. Act Fast. 1. Smell — Natural gas smells like rotten eggs. 2. Gas — If the gas is in the air, a spark can cause and explosion. Don’t light a match, smoke, flip a switch, ring a doorbell, or touch any electrical appliances, including phones. 3. Run — If you suspect a gas leak, get everyone out immediately. 4. Call — When you’re safe, call 911, Con Edison (800.75.CONED), or National Grid (718.643.4050). Don’t assume someone else has already called. You can report leaks anonymously. conEd.com/gassafety SPRING 2018 — DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION STREET REPAVING ON STREET FROM TO 250 Street Union Turnpike Elkmont Avenue Shiloh Avenue 249 Street Little Neck Parkway 246 Street Union Turnpike Hillside Avenue 85 Road 241 Street Cross Island Pkwy S/R S/B 86 Avenue Cross Island Pkwy S/R S/B 239 Street 84 Road Hillside Avenue Cross Island Pkwy S/R S/B Linden Boulevard 225 Street 235 Street (Cross Island Pkwy) 120 Avenue 232 Street 223 Street 117 Road Springfield Boulevard 219 Street 223 Street Linden Boulevard 120 Avenue 231 Street Linden Boulevard 120 Avenue 231 Street Linden Boulevard 115 Avenue 219 Street Linden Boulevard 119 Avenue 91 Avenue Hollis Court Boulevard Springfield Boulevard 212 Place 91 Avenue Jamaica Avenue 94 Avenue Hollis Courtt Boulevard 214 Place 92 Avenue 212 Place Springfield Boulevard 214 Street 93 Avenue Jamaica Avenue 211 Place Dead End 99 Avenue Bellaire Place 104 Avenue 100 Avenue 209 Street 99 Avenue Dead End 212 Street Hollis Avenue 99 Avenue Hollis Avenue 212 Street 208 Street 120 Avenue 238 Street 232 Street 119 Avenue Springfield Boulevard 223 Street City Council members from Queens disappointed in lack of property tax rebate in 2019 city budget Qns.com., Wednesday, May 2, 2018 By: Ryan Kelley With the announcement of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s fiscal year 2019 executive budget proposal on April 26, many City Council members from Queens were left wondering if their constituents would ever catch a break. A tax break, that is. The $89 billion city budget — which is $3.82 billion higher than the budget adopted last year — does not include the City Council’s plan to give a property tax rebate to middle-class homeowners. Proposed by Speaker Corey Johnson in response to the mayor’s preliminary budget plan on April 11, the rebate would give $400 back to homeowners who earn less than $150,000. In a statement released the day after de Photo: Benjamin Kanter/Mayoral Photo Office. Blasio’s announcement, Councilman Robert New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announces his Fiscal Year 2019 Executive Budget in the Blue Room at City Hall on Thursday, Holden said that the budget is not what he had hoped for. “Considering that this is the largest budget we’ve ever seen, it would have been nice to consider offering a small refund to those that own homes across the city,” Holden said. “I would have liked to see property tax reform addressed in this budget, because there continues to be undue strain on the middle class.” Holden’s District 30 covers Maspeth, Middle Village, Glendale and parts of Ridgewoodand Woodhaven, where 44 percent of housing units are owner occupied and the combined average household income is approximately $78,000, according to the Department of City Planning. During his April 26 announcement, de Blasio responded to a question about the property tax rebate proposal by saying that nothing is final yet. “Look, we look to the Council’s budget response,” de Blasio said. “We thought there were some things we could address but a number of things were very substantial and we’d have to see what was possible going forward.” While negotiations between the Council and the Mayor’s Office will determine the budget’s final contents by the July 1 deadline, Johnson and other Council members like Holden have already made their positions clear.